Depth-indicating device



H. w. KING.

DEPTH INDICATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.27, 1920.

1,422,223. Patented July 18, 1922.

Horace W h fnj a2, )VWM 4.2442 qmmm HORACE W. KING, OF ANN ARBOR, MICGAN.

DmTH-INDICATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July is, 11922.

Application filed August 27, 19201 Serial No. 406,338.

. Depth-Indicating Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to devices for indicating the depths of liquids and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple compact construction by which the passage of the liquid draws in air which displaces a column of the main body of the liquid, the resistance offered by the column5of liquid to the air displacing the same being indicated. Another object is the forming of a unit construction which comprises the tube adapted for the passage of a mixture of the liquid and air from its receptacle and the parts of the depth indicating device extending within the liquid. Other objects of the invention reside in the features of construe tion and combinations of hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

The figure is a side elevation partly in section of a depth indicating deviceembodying my invention.

The invention is adapted particularly for use in automobiles to indicate the depth of the gasoline in the gasoline tank. As shown, 1 is a gasoline tank, and 2 is a pipe which is connected to a suitable source of vacuum parts as more fully such as a vacuum tank A for conveying the gasoline from the tank to the engine (not shown). The depth .indicating device comprises the air chamber 3 within the tank 1 and having the aperture 4 near its bottom for placing the interior of the air chamber in communication with the gasoline at the full depth of the latter to be measured. 5 is a tube opening into the top of the air chamber 3 and extending up through the top of the gasoline tank, the upper end'of this tube being connected by the pipe 6 to a suitable pressure gau e 7. The lower end of the tube 5 is prefera 1y bevelled, so that any gasoline therewithin may more readily drop ofiits lower end when displaced by air.

For the purpose of introducing air into the air chamber 3 by the action ofthe gasoline being withdrawn from the tank, the following construction is provided: 8 is a chamber below the air chamber 3 an P ef erably secured thereto, these chambers being separated by means of the horizontal partition 9 which has the restricted aperture 10 therein for placing the interiors ofthe chambers in restricted communication with each other. 11 is a short tube mounted upon the chamber 8 and formed preferably, but not necessarily, with rounded edges at its outer end having a throat 12 of smaller diameter than tubes 2 and 14 and gradually diverging to a larger diameter at its inner end. Such a tube is commonly called a Venturi tube. The passageway through tube 11 opens into the gasoline in tank 1 and into chamber 8. 13 is a tube adapted for the passage of air {and extending longitudinally of the tube 5 and preferably secured thereto as by means of solder, the lower end of this tube communicating with the throat of the venturi passageway 12 and its upper end extending above the level of the gasoline. 14 is a tube opening into the chamber 8 and connected at its upper end to the pipe 2;

In order to measure substantially all the gasoline in the tank,the bottom of the tank is provided with the well 15, which contains the chamber 8 and tube 11. The arrangement is such that the aperture 4 in the air chamber 3 is at substantially the same level as the main portion of the bottom of the tank.

For providing for ready attachment to the tank and removal therefrom, the tubes 5, 14 and 13 and the chambers 3 and 8 as well as the Venturi tube 11, are mounted as a unit upon the disk 15 held in place by the cap 16 of the dome 17. This cap threadedly engages the cylindrical flange 18, which latter has the annular base flange 19 secured to the top of the tank 1,. For sealing the joint between the cap and the upper end of the cylindrical flange, suitable packing 20 is provided at the Upper end of the cylmdrical flange. The nipple 21 which is adapted to be connected to the pipe 2 and to which is secured the tube 14 and the nipple 22, which is adapted to be connected to the pipe 6 and to which is secured the tube 5 are rigidly mounted upon the cap 16. jiVith this arrangement, by disconnecting the pipes 2 and 6 from their respective nipples and by unscrewing the cap 16 from the cylindrical flange 18, the parts may all be readily withdrawn from the tank through the cylindrical flange.

In operat t e Vacuum n the p pe .2'

will draw gasoline from the interior of the tank 1 through the passageway 12, the chamber 8, tube 14 and pipe 2. The smallest diameter of the passageway 12 being smaller thanthat of tubes 12 and 14;, the gasoline will pass through the restricted passageway 12 at a comparatively high velocity. By increasing or decreasing the opening in passageway 12 any desired velocity therethrough may be secured. The movement of gasoline through passageway 12 at a sufiiciently high velocity causes a suction sufiicient to draw air through tube 13 into the passageway with the moving gasoline. The amount of air allowed to enter may be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the throat of passageway 12. While the gasoline is flowing, there will be a slight suction through the aperture 10 toward the chamber 8, but as the aperture is compara tively very small, the amount of gasoline that will pass therethrough will not inter fere with the movement of gasoline through passageway 12.

As the gasoline and air are drawn through passageway 12, the chamber 8, tube 14:, and pipe 2, a portion of the air collects in the top of the chamber 8 and is held there while the gasoline is flowing. When the flow of gasoline stops and the suction at aperture. 10 is relieved, the air entrapped in the top of chamber 8 moves up through aperture 10 and into the air chamber 3 and tube 5 to displace any gasoline that may be held therein down to aperture 4.

The reason for making the passageway 12 venturi in shape rather than cylindrical is that it reduces the suction at aperture 10. This greater suction, though objectionable, Will not prevent the device from operating.

The pressure gauge 7 which is connected to the tube 5, measures the pressure of air therein, and thereby measures the quantity of gasoline in the tank 1, since the pres sure of air upon the gasoline is atmospheric as is that opposing movement of the indicating liquid in the pressure gauge.

This device thus provides a means of introducing a small quantity of air into the air chamber 3 and tube 5 each time the vacuum tank refills, ordinarily several times an hour, and thus automatically corrects the reading of the gauge, which would otherwise read incorrectly when gasoline entered the air chamber because of movement of the car, changes of temperature or from the effects of vapor pressure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a depth indicating device for liq uids, the combination with a chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured, of a second chamber below said first mentioned chamber and communieating therewith, means for introducing air into said second chamber, and a pressure gage communicating with said first men'- tioned chamber.

2. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a chamber com: municating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured and a second chamber below the first mentioned chamber and communicating therewith at substantially the same level as said chamber communicates with the liquid, means for introducing air into said second chamber, and means for indicating the pressure of air in said first mentioned chamber.

3. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a chamber communicating with a body of liquid at the full depth to be measured, of means for conducting a mixture of air and the liquid from the body of the liquid, said means communicating with said chamber at substantiall the same level as said chamber communicates with the liquid, means for producing the flow of the mixture of air and liquid and a pressure gage communicatin with said first mentioned chamber.

4. n a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a chamber member having an upper chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured and a lower chamber communieating with said upper chamber, of means for conducting a mixture of the liquid and air into said lower chamber, and a pressure gauge communicating with said upper chamber.

5. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured, of a second chamber below said first-mentioned chamber and communicating therewith, a passageway for the liquid opening into said second chamber, a tube adapted for the passage of air connecting into said passageway and extending above the liquid, means for drawing a mixture of the liquid and air into said second chamber, and a gauge in communication with said first-mentioned chamber.

6. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination. with a chamber member having an upper chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured and a lower chamber communicating with said upper chamber through a restricted passageway, a tube opening into said second chamber for placing the in terior of said second chamber in communication with the liquid, a tube adapted for the passage of air communicating with the passageway in said first mentioned tube and extending above the liquid, a suction tube adapted for the passage of a mixture of the liquid and air for drawing the mixture through said second chamber, and a pressure gauge connected to said first-mentioned chamber.

7. In a depth indicating device for .liquids, the combination with a tank containing a liquid, of a chamber'communicating with the liquid at the full depth to be measured, means communicating with said chamber at substantially the same level as said chamber communicates with the liquid, said means being adapted to conduit air into said chamber to displace the liquid therein down to the point of communication of said chamber with the liquid, and means for withdrawing the liquid from the tank, and for drawing air into said chamber through said first-mentioned means, said withdrawing means being mounted as a unit upon said tank with said chamber and air conducting means.

8. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a tank containing a liquid. of a chamber communicating with the liquid at the full depth to be measured, a second chamber below said first mentioned chamber and communicating therewith. a suction tube for drawing a mixture of air and the liquid into said second chamber from said tank. a tube communicating with said first mentioned chamber and adapted to communicate with a pressure gage, and a common mounting upon said tank carrying said tubes and chambers.

9. In a depth indicating device for liq uids. the combination with a chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured. of means for effecting an intermittent flow of the liquid. means operated by the intermittent flow of the liquid for introducing air into said chamber. and pressure indicating means connected to said chamber.

10. In a depth indicating device for liquids. the combination with a liquid fuel tank and a vacuum tank for drawing the liquid fuel therefrom. of an air chamber communicating with the liquid fuel at the full depth to be measured. means controlled by the operation of said vacuum tank for introducing air into said chamber. and pressure indicating means connected to said chamber.

11. In a depth indicating device for liquids. the combination with an air chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured. of means for producing the flow of the liquid. means dependent upon the liquid flow for introducing air into said air chamber, and a pressure gage communicating with said air chamber.

12. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with an air chamber communicating with a body of the liquid at the full depth to be measured, of means for withdrawing liquid from the body, means for drawing air into the liquid being Withdrawn and for introducing the drawn air into said air chamber. and a pressure lgage communicating with said air cham- 13. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a chamber in direct communication at its lower end with the liquid only at the full depth to be measured, of a second chamber below said firstmentioned chamber and communicating therewith only at substantially the same level as said first-mentioned chamber communicates with the liquid. means for. introducing air into said second chamber at its lower end, and a pressure gage communicating with said first-mentioned chamber.

14. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with a chamber communicating with a body. of liquid at the full depth to be measured. a second chamber be low said first-mentioned chamber and communicating therewith, means for drawing liquid through said second chamber. means for drawing air into said second chamber by the flow of the liquid, and a pressure gage communicating with said first-mentioned chamber.

15. In a depth indicating device for liquids, the combination with an air chamber communicating with the liquid at the full depth to be measured. of means for automatically introducing air into said airchamber at a level below the level of communication of said chamber with the liquid, and a pressure gage communicating with said air chamber.

16. In a depth indicating device for liquids. the combination with a chamber communicating with a liquid at the full depth to be measured, of a second chamber below said first-mentioned chamber and communicating therewith. a suction tube adapted for the passage of the liquid and air connecting into said second chamber, a passageway for the liquid opening into said second chamber and having a portion with a cross sectional area less than that of said suction tube, a tube adapted for the passage of air connecting into said portion of the passageway and extending above the liquid, and a pressure gage connected to said first-mentioned chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HORACE W. KING. 

